OROVILLE — A jury has found a Bangor man guilty for his role in a 26-hour standoff in February 2010.

The Butte County Superior Court panel deliberated for about three hours today before reaching its verdict against John Lee Hickey.

Hickey, 45, was found guilty of three counts of assault with a firearm against a peace officer, two counts of child endangerment, exhibiting a firearm in front of an officer and resisting an executive order. All counts are felonies.

For two of the assault charges, the jury found that Hickey personally used and discharged a firearm. Each special allegation can add 20 years to Hickey”s sentence. The defendant faces up to 76 years in state prison when he is sentenced March 13, according to Kelly Maloy, supervising deputy district attorney.

Maloy was satisfied with the verdict.

“The jury has spoken,” she said.

Defense attorney Eric Ortner said an appeal was certain.

Hickey was arrested following the standoff at Grimy Gulch Road Feb. 9-10, 2010. Butte County sheriff”s deputies had gone to the residence to serve a search warrant for firearms, but Hickey didn”t let them in. A deputy testified that when officers knocked a hole in an exterior door, he was jabbed in the chest by a walking stick from the hole.

Over the next 26 hours, police took positions around the property while a negotiator worked to stay in contact with the defendant.

During the trial, deputies testified a male voice yelled menacing, profanity-laden statements at the officers.

There were also two periods of gunfire from the residence. On the evening of Feb. 9, officers came under fire from the house when they went to retrieve a deputy.

The second attempt came after an unsuccessful attempt to use tear gas to force the occupants to leave the building early Feb. 10.

Hickey allegedly fired from the residence toward officers, prompting one officer to fire a single shot back at the house when gunfire appeared aimed at his position.

The incident ended mid-afternoon on Feb. 10, following a second tear gas attempt.

No one injured in the standoff.

Hickey testified in his own defense during the trial. He said he was resting at home after trying to get help for his kids. He had lost custody of his 10 children about eight months prior to the incident, but three had run away from foster homes and returned to the property.

Hickey was awakened by his kids screaming and loud knocking. He said he may have waved an airsoft pistol at deputies, but didn”t display a revolver or a gun.

The defendant said he had a hazy recollection of most of the standoff. He said he had been pushed to a breaking point and something had popped.

Hickey said he may have pulled a trigger at one point, after a tear gas incident. He said he believed tear gas was people shooting at his house and he sought to draw the shooters” attention to protect his family.

Hickey”s testimony frequently diverged from prior statements made by his estranged wife — who was inside the residence during the standoff — and the deputies who were outside.